Don’t Be Tempted By Cheap Labour: Immigration Dept
By Liza Mohd

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Belait Immigration Department's Enforcement Section recently advised the public against employing cheap labour, and instead, takes time out to verify foreign workers' work status before recruiting them.

The consequences of hiring illegal workers can be costly, added the department.

Under Chapter 55(1)(e) of the Immigration Act, anyone found guilty of immigration violation will face a minimum fine of $3,000 and a maximum jail term of two years. Those caught committing the same offence more than once will face a mandatory fine of $6,000 and a maximum jail term of four years.

The advice came following the arrest of an Indonesian national by five Immigration officials, led by Senior Immigration Officer, on suspicion that he had overstayed in the country for 450 days.

He is currently awaiting sentencing and may face a minimum jail term of three months and three strokes of the cane.

According to the Enforcement Section, the suspect was employed as a farmer at a local company in Tutong District. After his work pass was withdrawn by his employer, the suspect went back to his country of origin.

However, he returned to Brunei on a visit pass on November 3, 2005, which expired 14 days later. But he did not attempt to renew the pass, and made a living doing odd jobs.

In a separate operation, codenamed "Bongkar 16", 12 Immigration officials inspected 78 foreign workers from Bangladesh, Thailand and Indonesia with an aim of ensuring foreign workers abide with the laws and conditions enforced by the Immigration Department.

During the operation, officials detained three foreign workers - two Bangladeshis in Kampong Sinaut and a Thai in Kampong Sengkarai - for failing to produce valid documents.

A special pass was meanwhile issued to a woman living in a rented room with a Thai man, whom she claimed to be her sibling. Her passport, however, indicated that her visit pass had expired. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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